01 Differentiation

Yue Manor.

The birthday banquet for Yue Zhenbei, the twenty-year-old eldest daughter of the Jiangbei Governor.

Jiangbei enjoyed imperial favor. Since the opening of trade in the previous dynasty, the Jiangbei Trading House had been established, specializing in commerce with foreign nations.

Through nine reigns and three dynasties, the Wanning Dynasty had long since integrated into the community of nations, its social customs blending with numerous foreign influences.

As the bridgehead for engaging with all nations, the Jiangbei Trading House was naturally at the forefront—powerful, influential, and immensely wealthy.

A waltz ended.

Moonlight refracted through the stained-glass windows.

Men and women left the dance floor. Glasses clinked in a scene of dazzling and bizarre splendor.

Yan Xiao picked up a glass of champagne and declined a middle-aged Alpha whose hairline was precarious, clad in old silks and satins: "Mr. Lu, if you come to Sandalwood Pavilion to buy incense, you are always welcome. But for anything else, let's forget it."

Having said that, she turned to leave.

Immediately, she heard the old feudalist, once called "Prince," viciously gossiping behind her:

"Who does she think she's fooling? Isn't she just a whore from Hualou Street who'll spread her legs for money?"

"If this were back in the day, without me even mentioning it, she'd have been scrambling onto my bed in a fucking hurry."

"Think too highly of herself? Who the hell cares? She's just a 'Beta' who hasn't differentiated at twenty-three. Probably has some hidden defect. I think she's a perfect match for that Yue family bastard who can't be shown in public!"

Yan Xiao took a calm sip of her wine and looked towards the head table.

Someone stood in the corner of the main seating area.

Tall and slender, wearing a impeccably neat military uniform, she leaned against the wall, her spot deserted.

It was too far; Yan Xiao couldn't make out the person's specific features, only feeling that this person stood straight as a black longsword—thin and sharp, keen and cold.

Yue Yinnan. Ostensibly the Governor's guard, secretly everyone knew she was the Governor's illegitimate child, a year older than Yue Zhenbei, the "bastard" in Lu Zuoqi's mouth.

Those watching the Yue family heir drama all said it was a pity; the foundation was good, but normal people differentiated around eighteen. Three years had passed for her with no movement; she was probably just a Beta.

—No matter how good a Beta's foundation was, they couldn't rival an Alpha, let alone Yue Zhenbei, who was Grade A.

Yan Xiao noticed Yue Yinnan glancing casually in Yue Zhenbei's direction.

The birthday girl was perfunctorily entertaining guests. Perhaps bored, Yue Zhenbei ended the conversation and sneaked out for some air.

Yue Yinnan drained her glass in one go and strode out after her.

Yan Xiao turned and directly poured her wine onto Lu Zuoqi's old mandarin jacket: "By the way, Mr. Lu, the perfume your wife commissioned from my humble shop the other day is finished. Please find time to settle the bill for the last three consecutive months you've owed."

Having said that, she belatedly realized she had splashed someone and offered an insincere apology:

"So sorry. You know how us folks from Hualou Street are short on money, vulgar. A bit too eager to collect debts. Your ancestors were prosperous too; don't stoop to our level, us small households. Please be understanding."

Who in the entire Wanning Dynasty didn't know the current royal family was a spent force?

Last year, Lu Zuoqi was still respectfully called "Prince," but then rebel armies marched north, straight for the heart, and the fire even reached the palace gates.

These years, natural disasters were constant, and foreigners snatched away much business, making life hard for everyone.

In the end, the rebellion was suppressed, but the cost in money and troops worsened the dynasty's already precarious situation.

People like Lu Zuoqi, whose ancestors eighteen generations back were related to the royal family but had long since smoked away the family fortune through opium, were already deep in debt.

Those with real backing dared not call him "Master," let alone use titles like "Prince." Calling him the foreign-derived "Mister" was already polite.

"This jacket is my fault. I'll deduct it from your outstanding debt, and I'll even knock off a bit more as an apology."

Yan Xiao spoke with a smiling face, her words full of insinuations. She didn't give Lu Zuoqi time to react, casually handed her empty glass to a waiter, and left directly.

Thud!

Lu Zuoqi's cane rolled in his palm, his face ashen as he stomped it on the ground, almost throwing it at Yan Xiao's spine!

Leaving the banquet, Yan Xiao could still hear the guests' whispers along the way:

"Look, that's the one from Hualou Street."

"Oh, what Hualou Street or not? Didn't they say Sandalwood Pavilion switched to scents? Heard their incense is absolutely masterful."

"Originally came from selling flesh, how can they break clean? Those who come from that sort of place can't change their spots…"

Yan Xiao calmly walked through the gossip. She reached a deserted, remote spot, casually grabbed a servant, and asked: "Let me ask you, which way to the Yue manor warehouse for gifts?"

Facing the servant's wary look, Yan Xiao looked composed, smiling as she slipped a piece of broken silver into his hand: "Just remembered there was something I forgot to put in with my gift. Here to mend the fold after the sheep have bolted, you see?"

The servant indeed said nothing more, all smiles as he pointed the way, adding: "Then you'd better be quick. The steward will come to check the gift list soon."

Gifts were uniformly placed in the warehouse to the northwest.

Today was Yue Zhenbei's grand celebration. The Yue ancestors, being founding generals of the Wanning Dynasty, were enfeoffed as princes of a different surname. This generation's Yue Prince also, due to merits suppressing rebellions in his youth, was promoted to Governor of Jiangbei, wielding immense power, firmly holding the unofficial title of "Regent."

Now, with the Young Yue Prince holding a banquet, all the prominent figures in Jiangbei naturally attended. Servants and maids were concentrated in the main hall serving; the remote warehouse didn't have a single soul.

In stark contrast to the singing and dancing in the main hall, the warehouse was deathly silent.

A dark moon and windy night—a good day for theft.

Yan Xiao pushed open the warehouse door with composure. Oil lamps burned inside, brightly lit.

It seemed the steward checking the list hadn't arrived yet.

Yan Xiao, as if entering her own home, flipped through the tags tied to the guests' gifts, scanning them rapidly, her brow slightly furrowed.

"One pair of rings from Treasure Pavilion."

Not it.

"One foreign telescope."

Not here.

"One map of the world."

Still not right.

Just as Yan Xiao was growing irritable, BANG!—a gunshot pierced the silence.

!

Yan Xiao was startled by the sound, alertly turning around, accidentally knocking a gift box off the corner of the table.

She steadied herself, discovering commotion coming from the direction of the main hall. Cries of "The Young Miss Yue was shot!" and "Catch the assassin!" rose and fell.

Yue Zhenbei was shot?

Who had such nerve?

Daring to assassinate someone right in the Yue manor?

And of course at a time like this…

Yan Xiao frowned, looking at the room full of gifts, having looked through less than a quarter of the gift lists, feeling hopeless.

Weighing her options, Yan Xiao decided to restore things and leave for now.

She hurriedly put things back, but as she bent down to pick up the fallen gift box, she unexpectedly met a pair of eyes under the table.

Malignant.

Yan Xiao was familiar with this kind of look.

It was the look of a hyena living off carrion in the gutter.

It felt like needles on the back.

It was Yue Yinnan.

"You…"

Before she could speak, Yue Yinnan under the table forcefully pulled her down, covering her mouth and nose with both hands, rolling and pushing her into a nearby low cabinet.

The cabinet door slammed shut.

In the cramped space, only the sound of their alternating breathing remained.

"You…" Yan Xiao was furious, but before she could curse, she felt a sharp pain on the back of her neck.

Fuck!

She was bitten!

Yue Yinnan's breath was scorching hot, biting down on Yan Xiao's nape like a starving wolf pouncing on prey. She used all her strength; Yan Xiao felt her skin was about to be torn open.

She struggled desperately against Yue Yinnan's restraint, but Yue Yinnan's strength was immense. Yan Xiao felt as if locked in iron chains, her mouth firmly covered, unable to make a sound. She could only bite down hard on Yue Yinnan's palm.

Pah!

A mouthful of salty taste!

Perhaps in pain, Yue Yinnan loosened her grip slightly.

Yan Xiao cursed in a low voice: "What's wrong with you? Have you gone crazy?"

"Shh. Someone's coming."

A faint smell of blood spread in the narrow space.

Yan Xiao's first thought was that she would make Yue Yinnan pay in blood.

Her second thought was that something was wrong with Yue Yinnan.

Her voice was hoarse, low and deep.

Most critically, her scorching breath desperately swept over Yan Xiao's nape.

Her tongue repeatedly licked the wound she had made on Yan Xiao's neck, like hooks and tongs being tempered repeatedly in a furnace, hooking and sinking a dry, feverish itch.

Sure enough, the next moment the steward hurried in, muttering to herself: "What is this mess? Finally got all the lamps lit to check the list, and then an assassination attempt happens. Thankfully the Young Miss only has a graze. Who knows who did it."

Complaining, she quickly blew out the lamps in the room.

With a creak, the door closed.

Yan Xiao breathed a sigh of relief.

That itch wrapped in pain amplified again in the darkness.

This time, breaking free from Yue Yinnan's restraint was easy.

Yue Yinnan had lost her strength. Yan Xiao instantly turned the tables.

She grabbed Yue Yinnan's neck, but Yue Yinnan caught her wrist.

Fuck.

How did she still have strength?

"I was drugged."

Yue Yinnan's expression couldn't be seen in the dark, only her voice was muffled and hoarse.

"Get me out of here."

Yan Xiao reached back and touched the nape of her neck. Warmth met her fingertips; she sucked in a sharp breath.

Just how hard had she bitten?

Furious, Yan Xiao laughed coldly, letting Yue Yinnan hold her wrist. Her voice brushed past like a feather, her eyes venomous:

"You're probably the only person in the world who'd mistake differentiation for being drugged. I don't even need to kill you. If you don't find an Omega, don't use inhibitors, you'll attract everyone, you know that?"

"And tell me, why should I help you?"

"Bastard."